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Assurance Home plans mustang ride-a-thon
Kelly Hopkins
Record Staff Writer - Roswell Daily Record
May 26, 2009
 Lee Kyser, left, sitting atop Pancho, and Bobbie Witchley and his pal Chico, pose for a photo at the Assurance Home Tuesday. The two are involved with the Mustang Project at the home. (Daily Record/Mark Wilson)
Sponsors and pledges are being sought for a 150-mile mustang ride-a-thon, with proceeds going toward keeping the program's shelter financially afloat.
"We've served hundreds and hundreds of kids in our shelter and it's a huge need," said Ron Malone, Assurance Home's executive director. "We haven't been able to locate stable funding."
Assurance Home, 1000 E. 18th St., started the James Ranch Youth Shelter in 2004, thanks to the estate of James V. Atterberry. Unlike the group home, the shelter focuses on children who are in immediate crisis and have issues never previously addressed. Although the program welcomes children from across the state, the shelter primarily houses youths from southeast New Mexico.
According to Malone, Bobby Witchley, an Assurance Home employee, was concerned about the shelter's future and brainstormed the ride-a-thon fundraiser.
"This whole project was his idea," Malone said. "The people who work at Assurance Home care deeply about the program and care deeply about our kids."
On Tuesday, Witchley and Lee Kyser, another Assurance Home employee, will saddle up their mustangs, Pancho and Chico, and begin their ride to the Santa Fe County line. Their goal is to ride 30 miles a day, which would get them to their destination on June 6.
Witchley said they hope to raise $80,000 for the shelter, but admitted they have a long way to go. Regardless of whether that goal is met, he said he appreciates any pledges they can get.
"I know that every dollar that comes in is a great help," Witchley said.
Witchley and Kyser, both instructors for Assurance Home's Mustang Project, say they're not overly concerned about how difficult the ride will be - any discomfort they may suffer will be worthwhile if it helps children who are in trouble.
"This is just a week's worth of inconvenience - these guys here have gone through a lifetime of hard times," Witchley said. "They've gone through a whole helluva lot more than we ever will."
And Witchley didn't have to bend his riding partner's arm to get him involved in the fundraiser. An educator of 27 years, Kyser said he's always had a passion for riding horses and helping children. Horses and children, he explained, have a lot in common.
"If you treat 'em right, they'll respond in kind," Kyser said.
He pointed to his mustang and added: "We try to get his confidence, just like we try to get a kid's confidence ... we can develop a partnership based on mutual respect and trust."
Kyser, 66, jokingly accused Witchley "of challenging his youth" with the ride-a-thon. He hopes people will pledge their support to Assurance Home's shelter, if not for the kids, maybe out of sympathy for him.
"Tell 'em it's an old man with an achy back, so donate," Kyser laughed.
To make a pledge to the mustang ride-a-thon, contact Witchley at 626-9510. To make other donations to Assurance Home, call 624-1780.
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